Lloyd Alexander is an author I have always enjoyed. This is one of his lesser known books and while it is not my favorite of his it is still quite good. His writing style is such that it definitely stands up to the test of time. ( )

When Prince Jen volunteers to search for the legendary court of T'ien-kuo, a mysterious old man chooses six gifts for him to bear in homage: a saddle, a sword, a paint box, a bowl, a kite, and a flute . Puzzled by the gifts but full of high spirits and pride, Jen sets of - but stumbles almost immediately into a series of misfortunes. Only with the help of his faithful servant, Mafoo, and valiant flute-girl, Voyaging Moon, and only after a breathtakingly exciting string of adventures can Jen discover the real meaning of the gifts and face his true destiny. . . .

I love all things by Lloyd Alexander, and this particular book holds a very squishy place in my heart. The story follows the young, idealistic prince as he sets forth on a journey. There is not a dull chapter. Every story and every character ties into the ending. Prince Jen manages to lose everything and everyone he sets out with, but still triumphs in a surprising way when he finds his way home. Dramatic chapter endings, and wonderful character voices, make this a great bedtime story for 7-12 year olds. ( )

I enjoyed this journey very much. Don't read the questions at the end of the chapters, unless you read them like the old serial narrators did in Zorro and Flash Gordon. They annoyed me. The tale itself is very stylized in the Chinese fairy tale fashion. I quite enjoyed it. Nice moral, without shoving it down your throat. Even humor, gentle humor. Favorite character: Moxa. ( )

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